Counterfeit Hero

"There’s no other way. We simply don’t have enough forces," Hastings said with a frosty expression. "If you can’t hold it, then just let Southeast Star Region fall to Sobel."

"Beep beep..."

The electronic sound rang out, and Fatty slumped in his chair, staring blankly at the screen showing an 11% casualty rate.

This was his twentieth failure today. Though the simulation settings gave him a total of four divisions while Hastings had only two armored divisions, the victory condition dictated that his casualty rate could not exceed 10%. Facing Hastings’ frenzied assault, it was almost an impossible mission.

This was a defensive simulation scenario centered around a city. In the first few confrontations, Fatty lost when the casualty rate exceeded the set limit with less than 30% of the battle completed. However, in the later attempts, he managed to drag the battle into mid-phase. Still, reaching the end of the battle was a long way off.

How to hold off Hastings’ nearly insane attack with a casualty rate of only 10%? Fatty’s gaze searched back and forth on the operational map. Line after line of defense, strategic points, roads, and passages transformed into simulation symbols in his eyes, spinning and evolving densely, causing his head to throb.

"Take a break." Hastings maneuvered his wheelchair and said to Margaret, "Maggie, get me a cup of tea."

Margaret glanced worriedly at Fatty, who was staring at the simulation computer screen in a daze, turned around, and poured a cup of tea, handing it to Hastings while softly saying, "Grandpa, why don’t you let him..."

"Some things require him to comprehend on his own. This process is very painful," Hastings waved his hand faintly, took a sip of tea, "Things that look impossible have countless possibilities; it’s just that his perspective can’t see them yet. By breaking through his cognitive bottleneck by himself, he will gain much more than my guidance can offer."

"General Russell treats him the same way..." Margaret’s delicate body crouched gently, placing her hands affectionately on Hastings’ knees.

"This kid is a genius," Hastings recalled the small-scale troop command tactics Fatty had displayed in previous simulations, with approval in his gaze, "Precisely because he hasn’t received formal military theory, he can take unconventional approaches and accomplish so many miraculous campaigns, defeating opponents far stronger than himself. Russell is right; we can only guide him to naturally form his tactical thinking and style, rather than influence him."

"But we are running out of time, the Southeast war situation..." Margaret expressed her concern.

"His opponent is Sobel..." Hastings remained expressionless, "If your focus is only on the Southeast Star Region, why would I go to such effort? I need a commander who can continue this war after me. This person must have keener instincts and a broader vision than Sobel."

Hastings spoke and lightly patted Margaret’s hand, his expression relaxing, "I know the current situation in Leray makes it impossible for him to focus; his heart is unsettled. And this is precisely his biggest weakness. His current role is not that of a soldier charging into battle but a commander. He needs to learn to control his emotions."

Control his emotions?

Margaret’s exquisite face showed a hint of a bitter smile as she cast a sympathetic gaze at Fatty.

Ever since learning that Western Alliance’s Great General Sheldon had reached the Central Leray Star Domain, Fatty hadn’t had a good night’s sleep for days. He almost never returned to the premises specifically arranged for him by Bernadotte.

The manufacture of Thunderbolt Mecha, the preparation of the joint research department, the bandit army’s training and combat readiness...

He not only needed to handle the bandit army’s affairs but also take care of the Chuckna Army, which was now integrated with the bandit army. Both the documents on hand and the frontline reports were too numerous to read through.

It would be fine if it was just exhaustion. But Margaret knew Fatty’s real pain came from the situation in the Newton Star System. Several times, she saw Fatty blankly staring at the interstellar map of the Central Leray Star System. The confusion in his eyes caused her heart to ache and tighten.

From an escaped destroyer to now, he had been desperately chasing time’s footsteps, yet the monster of war had once again rushed ahead of him.

Margaret couldn’t bear to imagine the impact it would have on Fatty if the Newton Jump Point were breached.

Yet, unless Mikami Yuto is defeated and Suss and Jiepeng are thoroughly swept out of the way, the Southeast Battle Zone cannot achieve fundamental reversal.

Only by winning against Resk can Chuckna free its hands to help the bandit army reclaim the Central Leray Star Domain. But with the bandit army’s current strength, they are no match for the Binart Empire.

How long will that take?

By then, will the Newton Star System still exist?

This answer, Margaret couldn’t even bear to ponder.

"Old man, let’s go again!" Fatty’s fierce voice came through.

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